Category: Fitness/Exercise

To Prevent or Reverse Diabetes, Exercise!

This should be excellent motivation to those of you who are procrastinating on your exercise program. If someone told you there is a “magic” trick that would almost instantly improve the way your body regulates blood sugar, and reduce the spikes in blood sugar that occur after a meal would you do it?

Well there is and it is called exercise. And now that you know the next step is up to you….

Exercise

Why Exercise is SO Important for Diabetes

Without exercise you’re unlikely to get this devastating disease under control. It works so well because it is one of the fastest and most powerful ways to lower your insulin and leptin resistance. Type 2 diabetics need to address the ROOT of the problem, which is NOT your blood sugar levels, as most conventional physicians would have you believe.

According to Dr. Ron Rosedale, if you follow the misguided belief that diabetes is a disease of blood sugar, you are likely destined for premature death. Taking insulin is one of the WORST things you can do. It will actually make your insulin and leptin resistance worse over time. Dr. Rosedale, an expert on leptin physiology says most doctors make diabetes worse and accelerate the death process.

· Leptin is a hormone produced in your fat cells. Leptin regulates your appetite and body weight. It tells your brain when to eat, and when to STOP eating. Leptin is responsible for signaling insulin.

· Insulin is released when sugars and grains raise your blood sugar. Insulin’s main role is NOT to lower your blood sugar, but to store the extra energy for future times of need.

· Insulin resistance occurs when your body becomes resistant to the hormone insulin. It provokes an insulin surge when you eat too many sugars and grains and signals more insulin in your body. When your body is exposed to too much insulin it eventually no longer responds to it properly and becomes insulin resistant.

Exercise is one of the MOST EFFECTIVE ways to regain insulin sensitivity and reverse insulin resistance.

There are three important aspects for exercise.

1. Intensity

2. Frequency

3. Length of time

Intensity is KEY for an effective exercise program. Burst-type exercises cuts down the time you have to spend exercising. It should take 20 minutes each session. Here is a summary of what a typical fitness routine might look like using a recumbent bike, elliptical machine or treadmill.

1. Warm up three minutes

2. Exercise as hard and fast as you can for 30 seconds.

3. Recover for 90 seconds by continuing to exercise but at a reduced pace

4. Repeat the high intensity exercise process and recovery seven more times.

Start out slow at first and do less repetitions, and work your way up. You could start out walking and do your 30 second bursts with your legs moving as fast as possible and your arms pumping hard and fast.

You will want to incorporate other types of exercise to round out your regimen. A good exercise plan would also include strength training, core exercises, flexibility and stretching.

Exercise plus Good Life Style Habits

The only know way to control proper leptin and insulin signaling is proper diet and exercise. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. No drug can accomplish this! In a random study of more than 33,000 people showed that drug treatment of type 2 diabetes in not only ineffective, but it is dangerous as well. Glucose-lowering drugs showed the potential to increase your risk of death from heart-related issues.

So, the key in diabetes prevention, is Exercise and diet!

Drinking just one sweetened drink a day can raise your diabetes risk by 25 percent, so you need to look for hidden sources of sugar and fructose. This also includes processed foods of all kinds. You should even avoid fruits until you get your leptin working again.

I am Shirley Noah, I teach the 9 Pillarsfor Health. A step-by-step approach to good health. Let’s connect to see how I may best serve you in the near future.

Over 20 years ago Johnny G, a South African cyclist and former pro cyclist, introduced Spinning to the world. This transformed the stationary bike into a group fitness program called indoor cycling. According to the American Council on Exercise if you are looking for a cardiovascular workout that offers a large expenditure of energy with minimal impact on your hips, knees and ankles, indoor cycling is an excellent option in both areas.

Indoor Cycling

1. Low Impact. People recovering from orthopedic injuries often participate in indoor cycling as part of the rehabilitation protocol. If done correctly, there is minimal impact on the hip, knee, and ankle joints. It avoids the pounding associated with other activities such as running.

2. Muscular Endurance. when pedaling against resistance in indoor cycling you increase the endurance of the muscles in the legs to include the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteus, and calf muscles. Working these muscles also helps to strengthen surrounding bones, tendons, and ligaments increasing overall strength.

3. Stress Levels. An indoor cycling class can provide the same rush of adrenaline and release of happy mood-inducing endorphins. This creates feelings of euphoria which lower stress levels and enhance the immune system.

4. Cardiovascular. An indoor cycling class can keep your heart rate will within a vigorous range for 45-60 minutes meeting the recommended range of 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise (five days per week).

5. Strength. All the pedaling will boost your muscle strength and endurance.

Is It Good for Me If I Have a Health Condition?

A good aerobic workout like indoor cycling may be just perfect for you if you have diabetes. Cycling helps your muscles use glucose more efficiently, so your blood sugar level is likely to go down.

If you are at risk for heart disease, a solid aerobic workout like indoor cycling can help bring down your blood pressure as well as your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol while helping raise your “good” (HDL) cholesterol.

If you have arthritis and think you should pass on exercise, think again. Cycling could be the key to lifting your energy level and your mood, as well as helping to protect your joints.

Is Indoor Cycling For You?

If you want to go it alone or join a cycling class cycling is one of the best cardiovascular activities today. What are you waiting for? Start today and pedal your way to better health!

I am Shirley Noah, I teach the 9 Pillarsfor Health. A step-by-step approach to good health. Let’s connect to see how I may best serve you in the near future.

Take Your Workout to the NEXT Level!

Do you go for short walks in your neighborhood, bike ride or work at the gym? Are you stalled in your progress?

Man on Exercise Ball

First, think about what you could do differently.

TYPE: What exercises are your doing? Consider some cross training and add a new activity such as biking, swimming, yoga, weight training. Test out new activities that you may not have previously considered. Enroll in a short program that you might be interested in. Try Zumba, Adventure Clubs etc.

TIME: If you jog for 20 minutes, try to keep it going for 20 minutes. If you cycle go another mile. Go farther and longer.

INTENSITY: How hard do you work? Do you reach your target heart rate? Take your maximum heart rate which is roughly 220 minus your age. Make your target heart rate zone at 50% to 85% of that. Pick up the pace or add weight resistance. Try walking at a regular speed and then step it up a notch for 5 minutes and alternate the speeds.

FREQUENCY: how many times per week do you work out? If it is three times a week, try to add alternate types of work outs on the off days. Cardio and weights, walking and cycling.

MOTIVATE: Consider a certified personal trainer or mentor. For the best results pick a partner who is slightly fitter than you are. This will motivate you to be better. If you choose give yourself a “reward” for accomplishing mini-goals. Focus on treats that not food. You could plan a special trip, spa treatment, or buy a pair of shoes. After you have met your workout goals treat yourself.

REAP THE BENEFITS: Baby steps, it is all possible if you push yourself just a little further, over and over again.

I am Shirley Noah, I teach the 9 Pillarsfor Health. A step-by-step approach to good health. Let’s connect to see how I may best serve you in the near future.